Russia Is Sending Su-35 Fighters to Iran to Replace F-14 Tomcat

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Key Points and Summary: Iran is phasing out its aging F-14 Tomcats in favor of Russian-made Su-35 Flanker-E fighters, marking a significant upgrade for its air force.

-This deal, facilitated by improved Iran-Russia relations, highlights Tehran’s defiance of international sanctions and its quest for modern air capabilities to counter Israeli and Sunni Arab adversaries. The Su-35 offers superior avionics, radar, and maneuverability.

-The partnership may include Russian advisors training Iranian pilots, deepening military ties and fostering potential future sales, including the Su-75 stealth fighter. While the F-14 symbolized Iran’s resilience, the Su-35 positions the nation for a new era in aerial combat and diplomacy.

How the Su-35 Flanker-E is Transforming Iran’s Air Force

Iran is moving toward replacing its aging fleet of F-14 Tomcat fighters with Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E warplanes. 

The first two Su-35s were transferred to Iran in December. This is the latest modernization effort for the Iranian air force, which has endured a jarring attack by Israeli conventional and stealth fighters that destroyed air defenses and other military targets in October 2024.

‘Fighter Plane Diplomacy’ Between Iran and Russia 

The Iranians are looking for a morale jolt, and Tehran hopes the new airplanes can give the air force modern capabilities to counteract adversarial airplanes. 

This is also an opportunity for the Iranians to engage in “fighter plane diplomacy” with the Russians. Vladimir Putin’s forces have been utilizing Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones during the war with Ukraine, and both governments have forged better relations while working together militarily.

Tehran Is Excited About the New Su-35s

Iran is expected to phase out F-14s in the coming years completely. 

The Su-35 will usher in a new era for the Iranian air force. The Su-35 has superior avionics, a new Irbis-E radar, and modern thrust-vectoring engines. 

The F-14 has been a mainstay in the Iranian military since the 1970s. The Tomcat has served well in the last 50 years, but it is time for something new. The Iranians have been highly resourceful and clever in keeping the old fighter in the air. 

F-14 Tomcat Fighter Weathers Sanction Storm

The Tomcat was used to significant effect during the Iran-Iraq war as a dog fighter but has been busy in an air policing role defending Iran’s borders since then. 

However, the Iranians have struggled under sanctions to acquire spare parts and conduct maintenance efforts to bolster the F-14. 

Technicians used reverse-engineering techniques to fashion components that the international community would have otherwise banned. 

The Su-35 will deliver a needed update to the Iranian air force. The Flanker-E is faster and more maneuverable, and it has a better fire control system with modern weapons. 

The Iranians hope that with at least one squadron of Su-35s, they will be able to defend against further incursions by the Israelis. The Iranians also want deterrence in the Persian Gulf region to help outclass Sunni Arab states in the area that have more modern air forces.

During the Iran-Iraq war, the F-14 shot down several Iraqi MiG-25s and MiG-21s. The Tomcat was superior to those airplanes, and the Iranians showed high skill and agility while flying the famous fighter.

After the war, Iran did a good job updating the F-14 as much as possible. The Air Force worked on getting the AIM-54 Phoenix missile up to speed, which was very effective during the war. Encroachment from the Israeli Air Force was always possible in the post-war years. The original fleet from the 1970s and 1980s has since been retired.

Iran Stays Defiant with F-14s

Iran has been proud of itself for keeping the F-14 in the air for so long. The airplane symbolizes the country’s defiance against financial and trade sanctions. The government is often seen as a pariah, but the Air Force has survived, knowing it could depend on the F-14.

Will the Russians Send Air Force Advisors to Train Iranian Pilots?

It will be interesting to see if Russia will send military advisors to Iran to ensure that the Iranian pilots will be trained sufficiently to fly the Su-35. This will create more advanced ties between the two countries. Fighter plane diplomacy can build on the burgeoning alliance. Russia also has a potential export partner for the Su-75 stealth jet that Moscow wants to sell overseas.

Iran will opt for a fourth-generation fighter that its pilots should take to quickly. But they could be in the market for a stealth fighter in the coming years, which is just fine with the Russian defense industry.

Overall, this is a win-win for Iran and Russia. The Iranian military gets a boost, and Russia gets badly needed hard currency and a potential market for future stealth fighters. Meanwhile, Iran is assuredly going to send more domestically produced drones to Russia for use in the war. 

The Tomcat has served Iran well, but the Su-35 could be a future mainstay for the Iranian air force and fighter plane diplomacy, allowing the Iranians to thumb their noses at international sanctions and deepen ties with Moscow.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.